Automatic locking ammunition container



T R A w M U A B w G.

AUTOMATIC LOCKING AMMUNITION CONTAINER 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed May 20,' -1943 Il Il Il Il \u l IIINIINILIIMNHFHII@ Il l l INVENTOR ATTORNEY,

ay 2, 1950 G. w. BAUMWART 2,50609 UTOMATIC LOCKING AMMUNITION CONTAINER Filled May 20, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 iatentecl May Gabriel Waltcaaumwart, Garden; city, 'N'. Y., assigncnto Republic Aviation Corporation, a;

corporation of Delaware Application May 26, 194s; serial 4st,??? 1'1 claires'. (c1. ssa-alii This invention relates' to containers or caissons, especially for aircraft ordnance and particularly tei; fer supplying iargisn cartridges teV the Iarger''alibre aircraft cannon; and it alsolreyatesf to tllifnid: or method of using-'installing 6i" repl'acing -s`ch caissons inthe aircraft.

n, ne f the general objects of the invention is to iiaterially, and vn s ig'nally', increase the capaci@ of s'ch cntainers, without thereby increa'ng tli siZ or bulk" or weight of the con; tairf'erat least, not' proportionately. For exe ample, the capacity' c'f a container constructed, :according to tli' invention, oflsubstantially the gsiani sizev as" one', which heretofore could contain C-n'ily 15 of the l3'7 cannon rounds, is hereby increased t eiactly 50 rounds of these larger jlavywcannn cartridges.

YAnother general object is' to provide a conitainr ef this improved nature which, .though rmtai'iiing' more and larger cartridges than the 'nwsal aircraft ammunition container',A will not bc 3p ofirtiii'tely harder t0Y handle 0r install in place in the aircraft; and will instead, be Veven easier to install, at least under certain circuni-y stances, which circumstances will be hereinafter inside manifest. It i`s` also an object of the' invention to provide ai caisson, and its concomitant structureintlie rli'lance carrier, which will renderit possible employ a new and improved mode ofinstalling caissons, ammunition containers, and magazines, especially in aircraft. y

AA particular object of the inventionY is to profl vide'y a' container so constructed that the weight of the cartridges in the vcontainer will `be so bal-Y anced that theywill, contrary to the usual practice, tend to remain in a state of stable equilibev rium, and not shift about, even during installing of other handling, and regardless ofthe position `or attitude of the box; and, withal, without necesi 's'it'ating any special retaining device, as for pref' v entingthe cartridges or the ammunition belt ,from slipping out of the container during handling. Another particular object of the invention Vis to provide a 'container which will positively` and -directly assist and augment-.instead ofhinlerl ing, as usual-the feedingactio'n of the power- -feed means usually provided on the cannon for Vpulling the ammunition belt out of the container into the'cannon. l L

`It is also anobjectof the inventionnto provide anew and improved method or mode Vofinstalling or mounting aircraft caissons or containers in 1.aircraft- Briey, the new method contemplates 2, inserting afllled caisson or container from bev` low a lower surface of the aircraft, through anl opening therein; their engaging but one of? thev lower corners or edges' of the container withsuitable means en ene side of said: opening; swinging up the dangling, oi' fr'ely hanging, box 11n-til its bottom face closes' #saidu opening andl at the saine tiii'ie automatically locking the opposite lower edge of the bo`x` the opposite side of said openv` ing; securing the automatic' locking means in' po siti'cn'; `and than 'securely counter-locking the box in its final position, netfiev'vcrthy"l feature or this new method is that it redu'cesthe rit-initier of operators hitherto required to install a; lldl ammunition container cf this generallcina and siz'ecentaining as it doesat least 50 rounds each weighing at least two poun'dselafroin two operators, to one operator, While obviously important at airelds, where there is' usually a shortage of help, this feature becomes still more; valuable. in actual combat away from the' aireld, especially in the case of 'ghter airplanes, having as they doV but oneoc-f cupant; who often has to remove the empty containers and replace' theml with,fullpnesweighing well over. 100 pounds; naied and undelille,k The other objectsof,l and results achievedjby, the present invention will Seitherbecoma apiv parent, or be made manifest, as this disclosure progresses.

The presentlyeprzeferredrembedimsnt Qf, the invention .is by way .011,exemrlication. ohlyndescribed herein'aftenwith reference to the ac panyins drawinsslbutit is tolhesunderStQQd at the inveeuen is limiten; ingitsmemeegiments eniy' by the scope of the sub-joined claims. In these drawings,

Figure .1 is a fregmetaryiflqntsvtional view ef a wing,withvihe'eeeeamer installed vertically therein,betweentworihs;

Figure Z is a Section, alng the v itl blanc- T #awash the wiesaiare-raad-eit: er Ion vfiile 2"-52 of Figure l, sighting in the direction of th ar- AFigure V3` isha,` substw tially` v `erti`ca"1- section through :/hevQIlainer, or a ngline 3-3 of Figi ureb2, sighting in the of theY arrows; leur@ an Qrilatsdeb11queSif1ldh nee 4er-4 ef Figure 1, sighting in the drcte er the arrows, and y u ,l n Eigure 5 is a detail section, along line 5`5 of Figure 4.

Thi-)drawings s craft` structure; concerned with the @lisais f ai air; e .msg iha ae' directa ammunition bei; that is to 2,506,409 'l ,f c

say, they show a substantially cubic caisson-well 3D. formed between two adjacent ribs 3|, 32, of said wing; a detachable door 33, closing the lower opening of said well; a pair of aligned upper fittings or brackets 35, riveted to the rib 32; an aligned pair of lower hooks 36, likewise riveted to the rib 32; an aligned pair of lower fittings or open sleeves 31, riveted to the rib 3l; a pair of upper brackets 38, carried by one of the spars (not shown) of the wing so as to embrace laterally, the uppermost portion of the box I I, I2, I4; and an armor plate 39, xedly mounted in the wing to the rear of said box. An opening 40 is provided in the rib 32 for an auxiliary feeding device I8.

The ammunition caisson, container, or box itself, shown in the drawings, comprises, among other things, spaced, parallel front and rear plates II, I2, united by means of cross-ties I3, and a flexible belly band I4, formed of a relatively thin strip of steel attached at each end to one of the ties I3 and guided and restrained, in the form of a G, around the open periphery of the box, by the other ties, I3.

' It also includes a track I6, I1, having a center line indicated as :1J- x, formed about two separate axes of curvature C, CI within said box, and contains and guides a belt, I5 of cartridges, the links of said belt not being shown. This track comprises two opposed parts: a relatively narrow and deep, spiral, channel I6, formed on the inner face of the front plate Il; and a relatively wide and shallow, spiral, channel I1, formed on the inner face of the rear plate I2. The channel I6, guides the points of the shells I5, the channel I1 guides the bases thereof, and the belly band I4 guides the links (not shown) around the periphery of the box and prevents accidental uncoupling of said links.

The ends of the belly band I4 are anchored to the box respectively above and below the beginning of the track I6, I1, so as toform therewith, a feed mouth opposite an auxiliary feeding device I8 mounted on the cannon (not shown),

which is fed by means of thebelt I5. The lower L or inner of said ends of the belly band I4 is folded around one of the cross-ties I3 so as to form a substantially horizontal projection I9, which acts as a bridge or chute operatively to connect the box to said device I8.

The arrangements above of the track I6, l1 within the box provides such a balancing of the weight of the shells I5 that there is no excessive load placed upon the feed mechanism on the cannon in drawing said shells into said cannon, ex-

cept at the beginning of the feeding operation, which resistance is due principally to the relatively high frictional strain or force opposing the advance of the belt around the inner parts of the track where the radius of curvature of the track about the axes C, CI is at the minimum. To meet and overcome this condition, a pair of power-sources or boosting devices is mounted along the axes C, CI. Each of said devices cornprises a shaft 2U, pivotally mounted across the box in ball bearings 2I; a pair of sprocket wheels 22, fastened on said shaft 20 and projecting within the path of the shells I5; and a spring motor 23, mounted anterior to the plate I I on a sleeve 24, coaxial with either C or CI, as desired, and screwed into said plate II. Each spring motor in turn comprises a barrel '25 freely mounted on the corresponding shaft 20; a spiral spring 26 anchored at one end to said sleeve 24 and at its other end, to said barrel; a pair of pawls 21, pivotally mounted on the front of said barrel; and a ratchet wheel 28, fastened on the shaft 2) to receive a crank or handle (not shown).

The arrangement of the said boosting devices with respect to the path of the belt is such that, during the lling of the box, when said motors 23, are wound up by hand, near the end of said filling operation, the boosting eiiect of the devices helps overcome the frictional forces opposing the advance of the belt along the track toward the dead end of said track, where said forces reach a maximum. During handling of the full box, and until the power feed operation starts, the inertia of the belt I5 prevents premature dissipation of the energy stored up in the motors 23 by said hand-winding operation. At the beginning of the power feed operation, the positive pull applied by the cannon upon the belt is automatically augmented and boosted by said motors 23, which then drive the inner end of the belt i5 in the opposite direction, through the sprocket wheels 22. If desired, due to the ratchet coupling-device 21, 28, the springs 25 may be wound counter-clockwise over more than the one or two turns it takes to bring the l0 first shells of the belt Iii into the position shown in Figure 3, without affecting the shafts 2lii. e., without affecting the position of the belt-by simply rotating the barrels 25 by hand-also in the counterclockwise direction-until the resistance of the springs '23 becomes excessive.

By virtue of the foregoing structures and arrangements, the capacity of this general type of ammunition container is increased manifold times; for instance, the capacity of the containers forthe largish, rather heavy 37 mm. rounds or cartridges for an automatic 37 mm. aircraft cannon-a true piece of ordnanceis increased by an additional 300%; or, from 15 rounds to 50 rounds. It also renders the larger number of shells easier to handle and reduces the number of operators required. from two. to one.

It is contemplated that the box II, I2, I4 be inserted from below into the well 3U; and it is also contemplated that it be provided with a three-point suspension system, which cooperates with said fittings 35, 31 and said hooks 36 to hold the box securely, but detachably, within said well. This suspension system comprises: an aligned pair of Lipper shoulders 4I on the plates II, I2, cooperating with the upper fittings 35 to hold the box down in the well; and two transverse lower support shafts 42, 43, projecting on each side of the box and cooperating with the hooks 36 and with the open sleeves 31, respectively, to hold the box up, securely but detachably, within the well. The support shaft 42 is xed across the box l l, i2, I4 and forms a trunnion 44, which can be engaged over the hooks 35 to hold the full ammunition box in the wing by one of its lower edges. Between the barrels 25, through a pair of sleeves 45 xed on the front plate II (and through corresponding sleeves, fixed on the back plate I2), there may be temporarily inserted an auxiliary, U-shaped handle 46, when it is desired to swing the iilled box (now freely hanging from the hooks 36), about said hooks, acting then as hinges, into its operative position shown in Figures 1 and 3. This arrangement further aids in reducing the number of operators required, from two torone. The support shaft 43, on the other hand, is pivotally mounted in the box II, I2 and projects on both sides thereof so as to form aipair-of grooved latchingebolts 4:1; whichcoe.

operat'e with the open@ sleeves 3 1* to ,lock-the box.V automatically inteloperative position-asisooniasiiita.

reaches said position'. This shaft 43 may be. then secured"againstrotationR andheldl in its locked'` angular' position by. meansi off ai spring. clip 48, mountedon a squareportien 49 `of.V the .shaftland carryingy a locking' handle 50 and ailocking pin.:

5l'. which cooperateswith ahole 521; provided'in the. fronttttingf 3'1l On the same salia-rede is mounted a4 counterlocking cam-lock 5?, which cooperates` with aY counter-lockingprong 542, carried on the innen` side of the door33.' This-automatici counterlocking device both.v prevents closingof the` do'orf 331 when the box is unlatched or improperly bol-ted. and maintains the box-securely loclred'inI itsf boltedlf position asJ long as the? door remainsclosed'.

On one vof the lover cross-tiesrlS is mountedia pairo-f snap-springs 55, each" having a.:` pointed.r

method comprises: opening the closure-of the`V container-well; taking` a'i`1lled cannon-ammuni'e tion box;- inserting the box in the-aperture; freelysuspending one. of the lower corners of thebox fromone side ofthe well; swinging the freely-N hanging-box upwardly intothe opening and auto-V matically loekinglyl engaging the opposite lower corner of'the boxVY with theopposite side ofthe well; securing the automatic lock-.ing means in position againstaccidental r release; and 'closing the closure to thereby automatically counter-lock the box in nal position.

Theembodiment shown isv susceptible of many renements and modications, all lying within;

the scope oithe sub-joined claims. For example,

the bellyrband*serving both as link-guide, and* restrainer and as walls-is adapted to Abe-replaced!" by rigid, permanent end-walls; andtheplates byk a bottom anda cover, this arraangement thus closing the boxl completely, except for an upper' feed-mouth provided atthe exit of'the'track;

If desired, only a single booster may be employed then arranged nearfthe about either or the axes C,C!. Also, if desired, a pair ofl separate;identi-v cal hand levers maybe employed instead of the" The door S3 mayjbe dispensedl andf this single booster deadv endof thetraek;

U-shaped handle. with; if desired, and-the box then provided with a solid" bottoml lying ush with the lowerskin of*v the wing and acting Aby itself asa door to close the ammunition wellv 3S in the nested position of the box. Instead of the particular spring motors 23 shown, there-may be employed, sim-plied spring motors, in devices 2l, 28 and the xed sleeves 24 are dispensed with, the barrels 25 then being xed to theV plate H and the springs ZEat'taChed'to thel shafts 2E) and to said fixed barrels,V respectively.

Having thus disclosed the inventiveconceptsV and-iat least one mode of embodying them forth, what `is' claimed ask new and inventive,y is.'

1i The combination with an aircraft component having an open ammunition well therein, of

spaced supporting hooks; at one' side of said'vk Well'. andlopening inwardly-f` ofthe component,y anfwhich the ratchet coupling i opposition to said outwardlyopen supportingammunition: magazine,... align'edri trunnioiis prow jecting lateralflyffronrione end."otsalctmagazmaf' arrangedl and: organized: for! reception ini tlfe supporting rhooksfagforesaid; lockinggarrdssupportf ing hooksiiopp'osedtofand .in substantiat aligne'- ment` withi said supportinghooksand lixedlys'selel cured: to the aircraft.` structure,.. and; latchingg' bolts alignedvtransversely' of andiiprojectingfromf. the@V free end of; said magazine in.. oppositionsltm said. trunnionsandl rotatable in: unisonby coaction with;saidxlockingg ande-supporting hnoks-.f for: automatic-2" locking" engagement: therewith: upon the swinging iofithe. magazineinto.- the; weil?4 about the. supportinglhooks :as ai pivots.A

2;. The combinationfwithan aircraft struetureI` having.; an' open.'y ammunition.l well therein-gv ott'. spaoe'di'- supporting xhooksat one side. of said. Wel/l1:` securedi to;y and f. opening inwardly of i the aircrjaitiv structure, spaced i supportinga and.' locking-. hooks on' the opposite sides of.V saidwell securedT-to-andx opening outwardly of; saidlaircraftr structure;g. an y ammunition magazine` having-outstanding .transversely alignedY trunnionsuat one end.thereofcnf` reception.. inrtlie supporting; hooks openingi. in wardly.` of the: aircraftf structure whereby thai magazine; may swing; into..l the zammuniti'onrwellrabout said" supporting: hooks as Vai pivot,r locking? bolts alignedxtransversely, ofiand projecting-from: thje endof'the ammunition magazine-'opposed -t saidttrunnioms for coopera-tion. with said-x looking.: hooks, means whereby.; said lboltsp-mayi be. v-rotatedffe in unison,` and meansi embodied in i each` bolt:` tot." automatically rotate the bolts; on contact thereof with the lockinghoolistto` causesaidbolts. toenterz .and be interlockingly.I engaged byrsaid lockingif hooks.

3. The combination' with-an aircraftistructuref'f having anr open' ammunition` wel-lr' therein; oi': spaced supporting hooks at one side o-f-said wellff secured to and opening inwardly,- off. theaircraft structure, spaced f supporting .and'locking hooks* on the opposite side of 'saidwel'l securedto andi opening' outwardly of said aircraft structurey ani".- ammunition magazine having-outstanding; truni nions at oneioilits'fends. for-'cooperation withthe supportingthooks! openingr inwardly of" the#- aircraft structure whereby their magazine mast? swing into theammunition' well atioutlsaidfsup-.2- porting hooks Vas af pivot; locking boltsaiigned transverselya ofA andi' projecting froml theiendfoff the ammunition magazine: opposed `'to said' tiun-e-l nions, each locking bol-t being substantiall'yffE U-shaped insection', said sectionb'eing positi'one to open inwardly of 'thevaircraft structurelland" locking hooks asthe ammunition magaziner swings about said trunnions'to belocatedwithln-i the-'ammunition well, andmeans whereby; saiclibolts automati'callyrotat'e in" unison upon con-V tact with the outwardlyiop'ening supportin nd" lockingy hooks aoresaidfto become housed'.and-"A engaged within the latter..

4. The vcombination,.with. an aircraftswingmaving ribsdening an. open 4wellinthe under sur-v face of the-wing, of an ammunition.container1v to be inserted in said= well; a..pair of supporting/:r1 hooks attached to one-of saidfribs and opening.. inwardly of they wing; trunnions.- carried by-saiclfil container tozbe detachably engagedb'y said'hooks. whereby the containerfmayaswing upwardlyintoa.. said well, projectionsonv said.' container disposed above saidv trunnions; 1and'ttings-'xedly se'curediAy to. the4 v:rib carrying said.; hooks L' tof:receive..-sairi projectionsiv `ami .Stherebye hold .saidltnunnionsrmf-i;

cooperative engagement by said hooks when the container is positioned within the well.

5. The combination with an aircraft wing having ribs defining an open well in the under surface of the wing, of an ammunition container to be inserted in said well, a pair of supporting hooks attached to one of said ribs and opening 'inwardly of the wing, trunnions carried by said container to be detachably engaged by said hooks whereby the container may swing upwardly into said well, projections on said container disposed above said trunnions, ttings iixedly secured to the rib carrying said hooks to receive said projections and thereby hold said trunnions in cooperative engagement by said hooks when the container is positioned within the well, and means coacting with that end of the container opposed to the trunnions aforesaid to automatically lock the container within said well and to a"wing rib with the projections and fittings cooperating as aforesaid.

6. The combination with an aircraft wing having adjacent r-i-bs defining an open well, of hooks, opening outwardly of the wing, attached to the lower edge of the rib at one side of the well, hooks, opening outwardly of the wing, attached to the lower edge of the rib at the opposite side of said well, an ammunition box, trunnions at one end of said box to be seated in said inwardly open hooks, a projection on said box above said trunnions, a socketed fitting fixed to the rib above said inwardly open hooks to receive said rojection upon the swinging of the box into the well about said trunnions and thereby hold said trunnions seated in said hooks, and means at the free end of the box for coaction with the outwardly open hooks to lock that side of the box to the rib carrying the said outwardly open hooks.

7. The combination with an aircraft wing having adjacent ribs dening an open well, of hooks attached to the lower edge portion of the rib at one side of the well and opening inwardly of the well, hooks attached to the lower edge portion of the rib at the opposite side of said well and opening outwardly of the well, an ammunition box, trunnions at lone end of said box to 'be seated in said inwardly open hooks, a projection on said box above said trunnions, a socketed 'fitting xed to the rib above said inwardly open hooks to receive said projection when the box swings into the well about said trunnions as pivots and thereby hold the trunnions seated in said hooks coacting therewith, a rotary shaft mounted at the free end of the box, and locking bolts fixed to the ends of said shaft and projecting Ibeyond the walls of the box, said bolts having longitudinal grooves therein to cooperate with the outwardly open hooks aforesaid to automatically rotate said shaft and bolts to seat the latter within said hooks and thereby lock that end of the box to the rib carrying said outwardly open hooks.

8. The combination with an aircraft wing having a pair of spaced ribs therein defining an ammunition well and an opening in its under surface giving access to said well, of a pair of aligned hooks fixed to a rib at one side of the opening, a corresponding pair of open sleeves secured to the rib at the opposed side of the opening, an ammunition box to be received in said well, a pair of trunnions at one end of said box for reception in said hooks to swingingly mount the box thereon, a, transverse shaft ro-V tatably mounted at the free end of the ammus), nition box and projecting at its ends on both sides thereof, grooved latching bolts fixed to the projecting ends of said shaft and arranged to lockingly coact with said open sleeves as the Vbox swings about the hooks into the ammunition well, means for securing the shaft against rotating upon the locking coaction of the latching bolts and open sleeves, a door to be seated in the aforesaid access opening when the box is situated within the well, and means arranged to prevent the seating of said door to close the access opening prior to ful-l locking coaction between said sleeves and latching bolts.

9. The combination with an aircraft wing having a pair of spaced ribs therein defining an ammunition well and an opening in its under surface giving access to said well, of a pair of aligned hooks fixed to one of said ribs at one side of the opening, a corresponding pair of open sleeves xed to the other of said ribs and at the opposite side of the opening, an ammunition box to be received in said well, a pair of outstanding trunnions at one end of box for reception in said hooks to swingably mount the box thereon, a transverse shaft rotatably mounted at the end of the box in opposition to said trunnions and projecting at its ends upon both sides of said box, longitudinally grooved latching bolts fixed to the ends of said shaft and organized and arranged to receive one side of the open sleeves in the grooves thereof as the box swings about the hooks into the ammunition well, whereby the shaft and iatching bolts rotate in unison to completely seat the bolts within the open sleeves aforesaid, a spring clip fixed to said shaft for rotation therewith to lockingly engage the adjacent sleeve when the latching bolts attain full locking cooperation with the sleeves as aforesaid, a cam fixed to said shaft for rotation therewith hav-ing a high point to be directed outwardly of the well when said sleeves and latching bolts are in full locking cooperation, a door to be seated in the aforesaid access opening after the positioning of the box within the well, and an arm fixed to said door to project within the well upon the full seating of the door and having its .inner end recessed to conform to and receive the h igh point of the aforesaid cam.

l0. The -combination with a hollow aircraft component embodying a plurality of ribs defining a well in said component, of an ammunition box, means for hinging one end of said box to one of said ribs, and means for automatically locking the opposite end of said box to another of said ribs consisting of an open sleeve fixed to the rib to open outwardly of said well, and a rotary bolt carried by the box, the bolt and sleeve having -coacting curved surfaces so organized and arranged that contact between them causes the bolt to rotate and thereby become housed and retained within the sleeve as the box swings into the well aforesaid.

l1. The combination with a hollow aircraft component embodying a plurality of ribs dening a well in said component, of an ammunition box, means for hinging one of the ends of f said box to one of said ribs, and means for auto` matically locking the opposite end of said box to another of said ribs consisting of a rotary bolt carried by the box having a groove therein opening inwardly of the well when the bolt is inactive.- and a hollow open sleeve attached to the rib with its opening facing outwardly of the well,- the opening in the sleeve being of less width than; the diameter of the bolt, said bolt and sleeve being so organized and arranged that as the box swings into the Well one side of the sleeve is engaged in the groove of the bolt whereby the bolt rotates to reverse its position and become housed and retained within the sleeve.

GABRIEL WALTER BAUMWART.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 10 Numb er Name Date Herlach et al Mar. 12, 1935 Larsson Mar. 8, 1938 Rethel May 9, 1939 Bowers Apr. 9, 1940 LaPorte Oct. 5, 1943 Berlin et al Nov. 23, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain of 1884 Great Britain of 1888 Austria Jan. 10, 1920 France Feb. 28, 1928 Great Britain June 20, 1938 France July 4, 1938 Great Britain Sept. 12, 1940 Great Britain Sept. 10, 1941 

